Rail anchor



Nov. 15, 1938. J. E. LINDEMAN 2,136,554

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1938. J. E.LINDEMAN 2,136,554

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. 24, less 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F119 6 Fig. 7

' lhvmiar 7017285 ELi/zdemarz Cir Patented Nov. 15, 1938 PATENT OFFICERAIL ANCHOR James E. Lindeman, Evanston,

W. of Delaware Ill., assignor to H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., acorporation.

Application December 24, 1936, Serial No. 117,551

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rail anchors.

I One object of the invention is to provide a simple and efii'cient railanchor which may be readily applied to the rail of a railway trackstructure and operates to tightly clamp the rail and positively preventcreeping of the latter with respect to the tie of the track.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a railanchor of the character described in the preceding paragraph made in onepiece, and so designed that it is automatically clamped to the rail whenassembled therewith. I

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is atransverse, vertical, sectional View through the rail member, and anassociated tie of a railway track structure, illustrating my improvedanchor applied to the rail, the tie being broken away. Figure 2 is averticaLsectional view, partly broken away, corresponding substantiallyto the line 2-- 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view,partly broken away, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 ofFigure 1; Figure 4 is a View, similar to Figure 1, showing the improvedanchor in two different positions, one position in full and the other indotted lines. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the rail anchor illustratedinFigure 1, detached from the rail. Figure 6 is a view, similar toFigure 1, illustrating another embodiment of the invention. Figure '7 isa vertical, sectional view, partly broken away, correspondingsubstantially to the line 'I-'I of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a side,elevational view of the rail anchor illustrated in Figure 6, detachedfrom the rail. Figure 9 is a vertical, sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

In said drawings, I indicates the tie and I I one of the rails of arailway track structure. The

rail II is of a well-known type having the usual base flanges IZ-IZ bywhich it is supported on the ties of the track structure.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to inclusive, my improved rail anchor, as illustrated, is ofonepiece construction and comprises a base portion A having a grippingjaw B at one end and an anchoring lug C at the other end, the anchoringlug being braced by a supporting member D.

The improved anchor is preferably made of carbon spring steel in theform of a one-piece continuous member. The base portion A comprises ahorizontally disposed, fiat, barlike section I3 having a depending,substantially vertical, flangelike plate portion I4 at right anglesthereto, extending along the edge thereof adjacent the tie l0.Theplatelike portion I 4 is formed integral with the section I3. At theleft hand end, as viewed in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5, the barlike sec tionI3 is bent backwardly upon itself to form a hooklike portion or memberI5 which forms a part of the jaw member B. At the same end the dependingplatelike portion l4is twisted to provide an arm I6. The arm I6 is bentto hooklike shape to conform to the hooklike portion I5 and overlies andclosely fits the latter to brace the same. The hooklike portion of thearm I6, together with the hook I5 provide a unitary member which formsthe upper member of the jaw B. The lower member of the jaw B is formedby the adjacent portion of the barlike section I3. The upper arm of thejaw B is curved upwardly at its free end, as indicated by I1 and clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 4, thus providing a flaring jaw opening.

At the right hand end of the anchor, as viewed in Figures 1, 2, and 5,the horizontal section I3 is separated from the vertical section I4 by alengthwise, inwardly extending slit I8, thereby providing a spring arm I9, which forms, in efiect,

an extension of the barlike section I3. The outer end of the arm I9 isbent upwardly at right angles to provide the upstanding retaining oranchoring lug C.

The lug C is yieldingly braced by the supporting member D, which is inthe form of a curved, substantial, horizontally disposed fingerunderlying the free end of the arm I9. The horizontal finger orsupporting member D forms a continuation of the separated end of thesection I4 and at the connection thereof with the section I4 the same istwisted, thus disposing the part of the member D which underlies theouter end of the spring arm I9 in horizontal position. As shown in fulllines in Figure 4, the spring arm I9 is normally sprung upwardly so thatit is inclined with reference to the section It and is braced in thisposition by the supporting finger D which bears thereon.

In applying the improved anchor shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, tothe rail, the jaw B is first engaged over one end of the base flange I2of the rail I I, as shown in full lines in Figure 4. The lug C will thuscontact with the underneath face of the rail base. The anchor is thendriven onto the rail flange by applying the driving force to the outerside of the jaw B in a direction toward the rail. Inasmuch as the jawopening is relatively narrow compared with the tapered base flange ofthe rail onto which the jaw is driven, the jaw members are forciblysprung apart by the upper jaw member being driven against the slope ofthe upper face of said base flange, thereby producing tight grippingaction of the jaw and resultant strong binding of the end of the anchorwhich is provided with the lug C upwardly against the base of the railwhile the anchor is being driven onto the rail flange, and forciblelocking of the anchor to the rail when it is driven home. In thisconnection it is pointed out that the two-ply construction of the jawprovides for considerable stiffness against spreading of the jawmembers, thus producing relatively great pressure to lock the anchor tothe rail. In driving the anchor onto the rail base, the same is movedfrom the full line position shown in Figure 4, through the dotted lineposition shown in said figure, to the full line position shown inFigure 1. As will be evident, as the anchor is driven from the full lineposition in Figure 4 to the dotted line position shown therein, the armi9 is sprung downwardy with respect to the section l3 of the anchor,forcing the supporting finger D to bend outwardly and downwardly. Thespring arm 19, and the bracing finger are thus placed under greatstress, and spring upwardly automatically to engage the lug C with theedge of the base flange l2 of the rail when the lug snaps over said edgeof the rail flange when the anchor is driven home. Inasmuch as thespring arm I9 is initially bent upwardly with respect to the section l3or" the anchor before the latter is applied to the rail,

the arm [9 and the finger D are under stress after the anchor has beenfully applied as shown in Figure 1, and the lug C is securely held inlocked engagement with the edge of the base flange l2 of the rail.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures6, 7, 8, and 9, my improved rail anchor comprises a base portion Ehaving a gripping jaw F at one end and an anchoring lug G at the otherend, the lug G being braced by a member H.

The base portion E and the jaw F are of substantially the sameconstruction as the corresponding parts A and B of the rail anchorillustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the base member comprising ahorizontally disposed, barlike section H3 having a depending flangelikeplate portion H4 at right angles thereto, at the edge adjacent to thetie Hi. The jaw F, which is at the left hand end of the base portion asviewed in Figures 6 and 'l, is formed by overlying portions of thesection H3 and the flange H4 in the same manner as the jaw 13. At theright hand end, as viewed in Figures 6 and '7, the barlike section H3 isseparated from the vertical platelike portion H4 by a lengthwise,inwardly extending slit H8, thereby providing a spring arm l3 whichforms a continuation of the barlike section H3. The outer end of the armH9 is bent upwardly at right angles to provide the upstanding retainingor anchoring lug G. The lug G is yieldingly braced and rigidified by thesupporting member H, which is in the form of an inclined end sectionbent from the vertical platelike portion I It by giving the latter aslight twist as shown in Figures 7 and 9. As clearly illustrated inFigure '7, this inclined section II engages the inner edge of the arm H3and yieldingly braces the same. Before the anchor is applied to therail, the spring arm H9 is in the upwardly inclined position as shown inFigure 8 and the inclined section H bears on the edge thereof toyieldingly brace said arm. The member H thus functions in a mannersimilar to the member D described in connection with the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

In applying the anchor illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, to therail, the procedure is the same as that hereinbefore described in.connection with the application of the anchor illustrated in Figures 1to 5 inclusive.

As will be evident in both forms of the invention illustrated, theanchor is held securely in position on the base of the rail by the jawwhich engages one of the base flanges and the lug which engages theother base flange. The lug prevents endwise movement of the anchor andmaintains the jaw engaged over the corresponding base flange of therail. Gripping action of the jaw on the rail is effected by the leverageor the depending flange of the anchor, which flange has bearingengagement with the outer vertical face of the adjacent tie. The railbase is thus tightly clamped by the rocking action of the anchor toprevent creeping of the rail with respect to the tie which abuts theanchor.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving base flanges and a tie supporting said rail, the combination witha base portion transversely underlying the major portion of the base ofthe rail and abutting the tie; of a fixed jaw on one end of said baseportion and extending therefrom into gripping engagement with one of thebase flanges of said rail; a yielding spring arm extending from theother end of said base portion and having a retaining lug thereon inshouldered engagement with the other base flange of said rail; and ayielding supporting member on said base portion engaging said arm nearthe outer end thereof to brace the same.

2. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving a flanged base and a tie supporting said rail, the combinationwith a base portion transversely underlying the major portion of theflanged base of the rail and abutting the tie; of a fixed jaw on one endof said base portion and extending therefrom into gripping engagementwith one of the base flanges of said rail; a yielding spring armextending from the other end of said base portion and having shoulderedengagement with the edge of the other base flange of the rail; and meanson said base portion yieldingly engaging and bracing said arm at theouter end against flexing.

3. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving base flanges and a tie supporting said rail, the combination witha base portion transversely underlying the major portion of saidrail-base and abutting the tie; of a fixed jaw on one end of said baseportion and extending therefrom; a spring arm extending from the otherend of said base portion and having an upstanding lug thereon, said jawand lug engaging opposite sides of the base of the rail; and a secondspring arm underlying said first named spring arm and yieldingly bracingthe latter at the outer end portion thereof.

4. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a horizontally disposed barlikesection having a depending vertical flange along one edge, said anchorhaving a gripping jaw at one end thereof formed by overlying portions ofsaid her and flange, and having means at the other end for holding saidanchor on the rail.

5. A one-piece rail anchor comprising an elongated flat barlike portionprovided with a longitudinally extending, right angular flange along oneedge, said anchor having a two-ply jaw at one end thereof formed byoverlying portions of said barlike portion and flange, and means at theother end for holding said anchor on the rail.

6. A one-piece rail anchor comprising an elongated barlilre portionhaving a longitudinally extending, depending flange along one edge, saidanchor having a hookshaped jaw at one end formed by overlying sectionsof said barlike portion and flange, the end section of said flange beingtwisted to bring the same into face contact with said end section of thebarlike portion, and means at the other end for holding said anchor onthe rail.

7. A one-piece rail anchor comprising elongated barlike sectionsintegrally joined along their adjacent edges and angularly disposed withreference to each other, the end portion of one of said sections beingtwisted to bring the same into face to face engagement with the endportion of the other section, said face to face engaging end portionsbeing bent to hooklike jaw form, said anchor also having means thereonfor holding the same engaged with the rail.

8. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a gripping jaw of hookshaped formcomprising a twoply metal structure, an elongated barlike sectionforming a continuation of one of said plies of metal, a second elongatedbarlike section forming a continuation of the other of said plies, saidelongated barlike sections being joined integrally along adjacentlongitudinal edges and being disposed angularly with respect to eachother, said anchor also having means thereon for holding it on the rail.

9. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a pair of barlike sectionsintegrally joined along adjacent longitudinal edges, a gripping jaw atone end of said anchor formed integral with said barlike sections, saidbarlike sections being disposed angularly with respect to each other, aspring arm at the other end ofsaid anchor having a retaining lugthereon, said arm being integral with one of said sections, and a secondspring arm bracing said first named arm and formed integral with theother section.

10. A one-piece rail anchor having a gripping jaw at one end and aspring arm at the other end, said arm having a holding lug at its outerend, said anchor-having a second spring arm bracing said first namedarm, said arms being connected to said jaw by elongated barlike sectionsformed integral with said jaw and said arms respectively, said barlikesections being integrally joined along adjacent longitudinal edges andbeing disposed angularly with respect to each other.

11. A one-piece rail anchor comprising an elongated bar of springmaterial having a longitudinally extending, depending flange along oneedge, a spring arm extension on one end of said bar having a retaininglug at the outer end thereof, a spring arm extension at thecorresponding end of said flange, underlying said first named spring armextension and bracing the same, and a gripping jaw formed on said bar atthe other end thereof.

12. A one-piece rail anchor comprlcing an elongated angle bar of springmaterial having a gripping jaw formed at one end thereof, the oppositeend of said bar being slit at the angle thereof to provide a pair ofspring arms, one of said arms having the outer end angularly bent toprovide a retaining lug, and the other of said arms being bent toprovide an inclined yielding bracing support for said arm having theretaining lug.

13. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving base flanges and a tie supporting said rail, the combination witha base portion comprising a horizontally disposed, elongated barlikesection underlying the rail base and having a depending flange extendingalong one edge thereof, formed integral therewith, and abutting the tie;of a gripping jaw at one end of said bar formed integral therewith andwith the flange, said jaw engaging over oneof the base flanges of therail; a spring arm extension on the other end of said bar having ananchoring lug at the end thereof engaging the edge of the other baseflange of the rail; and a spring arm extension on said flange having itsend underlying and yieldingly bracing said first named spring arm.

14. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving base flanges and a tie supporting said rail, the combination witha base portion comprising a horizontally disposed, elongated, barlikesection of spring material underlying the rail base, said bar having oneend thereof provided with an upstanding lug engaging the edge of one ofthe base flanges of the rail; a depending elongated flange member alongone edge of said bar formed integral therewith and abutting the tie,said flange having an extended tongue portion separate from the barlikesection, said tongue portion having a section thereof inclined to thevertical and in yielding bearing engagement with one edge of the bar atthe lug end thereof; and a jaw at the other end of said bar sectionformed integral with said bar section and the flange thereof.

15. In an anchor for rails of a railway track structure including a railhaving base flanges and a tie supporting said rail, the combination witha base portion underlying the rail base and having a clamping jaw at oneend thereof, engaging one of the base flanges of the rail, said baseportion having a horizontally extending spring arm at the other endthereof provided with an upstanding anchoring lug engaging the otherbase flange of the rail; and a spring arm underlying said first namedspring arm and in face to face engagement therewith; said base portioncomprising a horizontally disposed, barlike section formed integral withsaid jaw and first named spring arm, and a depending flange on said bar,extending along one edge thereof and formed integral therewith, saidflange being formed integral with said jaw and said second named springarm.

JAMES E. LINDEMAN.

